despite
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
- despight (obsolete)
Etymology [edit]
From Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from dēspicere (“to look down, despise”).
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
despite (uncountable)
- (obsolete) Disdain, contemptuous feelings, hatred.
- 1599, Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 1
- DON PEDRO. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty.
- 1599, Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 1
- (archaic) Action or behaviour displaying such feelings; an outrage, insult.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:
- I am right wroth with Balen, I wold he were quyte of the despyte that he hath done to me and to my Courte.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:
- Evil feeling; malice, spite.
Preposition [edit]
despite
- In spite of.
- 1592–1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet III:
- So thou through windows of thine age shall see
- Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.
- 1592–1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet XIX:
- Yet, do thy worst, old Time: despite thy wrong,
- My love shall in my verse ever live young.
- 1592–1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet III:
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
in spite of
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Verb [edit]
despite (third-person singular simple present despites, present participle despiting, simple past and past participle despited)
- (obsolete) To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Walter Raleigh to this entry?)
